Deanwood in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Designed to Compete

A Self-Reliant People

—Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail —

By Richard E. Miller, August 6, 2009

1. Designed to Compete Marker

Inscription. This quaint frame building has served several church congregations since its construction in 1908. The First Zion Baptist Church stayed for more than 60 years. Since 1993 members of Joshua's Temple First Born Church have worshiped within its walls.

One of the city's first academically trained Black architects, William Sidney Pittman (1875-1958), designed this understated structure. Pittman trained at Tuskegee Institute, where he won the support of the founder Booker T. Washington and later taught. In 1905 resigned from Tuskegee to move to Washington and establish a private architectural practice. By the fall of 1906 Pittman had entered and won the competition for the "Negro Building" at the Jamestown (Virginia) Ter-centennial Exposition. In 1907 he married Washington's daughter Portia. The couple returned to this area and lived in a house Pittman designed in nearby Fairmont Heights, Maryland, an all-Black community he helped plan. Among Pittman's DC commissions were Garfield Elementary School and the 12th Street Colored Young Men's Christian Association (now Thurgood Marshall Center for Science and Heritage).

Pittman also designed the building to the right of the church, home of the Deanwood Chess House, a branch of the Big Chair Chess Club since 1991. The club uses chess to teach children and adults that their

By Richard E. Miller, August 6, 2009

2. Designed to Compete Marker with Pittman-designed church in view across Sheriff Rd.

decisions in life, as on the game board, have consequences. Mentors demonstrate how the concentration and self-discipline required by chess are important life skills. "Always think before you move" is the club's motto. Chess instructors occasionally take the giant chess set above the entrance to schools for teamwork exercises.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 12 of 15.)

Location. 38° 54.167′ N, 76° 56.405′ W. Marker is in Deanwood, District of Columbia, in Washington. Marker is on Sheriff Road, NE east of 43rd Place, NE. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20019, United States of America.

William Sidney Pittman's "Negro Building" at the exposition marking the 300th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, 1907 (Library of Congress).

Portia Washington Pittman, right, helped launch the S.S. Booker T. Washington, named for her father, in 1942. At left is Mary Mcleod Bethune with Marian Anderson at center and DC Recorder of Deeds Dr. William Thompkins between Anderson and Pittman (Library of Congress).

In May 2005, Senior Master Greg Acholonu, standing, visited and played 22 games simultaneously (Collection of Eugene Brown).

A typical Saturday, below, at the Deanwood Chess House, a branch of the Big Chair Chess Club: 12 boards are always ready for adults and children to play (Collection of Eugene Brown).

5. Designed to Compete Marker - photo of Deanwood Community on reverse

"At the end of this 1948 view of Sheriff Rd. stretching back to Minnesota Ave. is the old Watkins lumber yard. Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2017. This page originally submitted on August 16, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,771 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 16, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.